Upon hearing of the tragic death of a young 4 year old girl named Harper, a local primary care physician in San Antonio and some colleagues founded Harper’s Embrace Lifesaver Program (HELP). The purpose of this non-profit organization is to teach CPR at no cost to anyone who will listen. The lessons are taught by certified CPR instructors who donate much of their time to make sure anyone who wants to learn CPR has the opportunity. Through the efforts of Dr. Richard Reyna (President/CEO of HealthTexas Medical Group of San Antonio) and the Harper’s Embrace volunteers, HELP now teaches more FREE CPR classes than anyone in the Greater San Antonio area, including the American Red Cross.
“Our goal” says Dr. Reyna, “is to provide the opportunity for every citizen in the community to learn CPR if they desire. Often we don’t think of learning CPR until we are at the moment of crisis. Unfortunately, heart attacks, swimming accidents, choking or other life threatening events don’t call and make reservations. You need to be prepared BEFORE that moment occurs. There are too many unnecessary deaths due to people not knowing CPR. This can be prevented by taking a couple of hours out of a day or evening to learn CPR.”

 Testimonials

 
Jessica Garza with Plan B Inc. shared the following: Encouraging my friends, family, staff and their spouses to learn CPR has never been more important to me. On the day my father, Danny (age 56), was released from the hospital after surgery he arrived at his house only to step out of the car and collapse, suffering sudden cardiac arrest. Though his neighbors knew to call 911 none knew CPR. EMTs revived him upon arrival and his organs survived the event and the cooling treatment protocol. He was placed on a ventilator and we anxiously awaited the results of critical neurological tests. The results were devastating. Despite the strength and function of his other organs the critical time lost between the time he arrested and the time CPR was initiated resulted in severe brain damage that made sustaining his airway impossible. My father passed away less than a week later. Though there’s no telling what might have been had he received CPR immediately, I can’t help but think that my father passed away needlessly; he might have survived had someone in the crowd known CPR. And that possibility…that chance of survival…wasted, is a real tragedy.

Another save! We’ve been doing classes for a nearby school district for the past 2 weeks (90 students……they have 15 Automated External Defibrillator’s around their campuses).
Last Thursday, as the baseball coach was shaking hands with the umpire after the game, the umpire hit the ground……..the last thing he remembers was reaching out to shake hands with the coach…….the next thing he knew (a few minutes of CPR and two AED shocks later) he was looking up at the blue sky above him and hearing “an annoying woman talking….and she wouldn’t shut up” (it was the automated voice of the AED).
He is currently recovering at a local San Antonio hospital.

I became a H.E.L.P. instructor to honor the memory of Harper Ellen Peeples and out of respect for her family. Tina Peeples and I were good friends and for me it was a fitting way to pay tribute to the life and legacy of her bea
utiful Harper Ellen. I had no idea that the training I would receive would reward me with the power to save the life of someone so dear to me.
About 6 months after becoming a Harper’s instructor, I was able to save one of my best friends from chocking. I ran to her, put my arms around her and gave her a thrust. It took four thrusts to expel the object and then she was breathing again. I couldn’t believe that with all the people around her, I was the one who had the confidence and courage to step in and help. That is what the H.E.L.P. training has given me and it is what I emphasize most in the Harper’s classes that I teach.
Harper Ellen clearly had a higher purpose that took her to heaven much earlier than we would have wanted. I am amazed at how the legacy of one little girl can affect so many others and I am grateful to be a part of the H.E.L.P. team.
Janette Surrett